May 21, 2020

Gospel: John 16:16-20A little while, and you will see me no more; and then a little while, and you will see me.” Some of the disciples wondered, “What does he mean by, ‘A little while, and you will not see me; and then a little while, and you will see me’? And why did he say, ‘I go to the Father’?”

And they said to one another, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.” Jesus knew that they wanted to question him; so he said to them, “You are puzzled because I told you that in a little while you will see me no more, and then a little while later you will see me. Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.

REFLECTION:The path that Jesus had asked his disciples to take – the same path that he asks us, his present-day disciples to take – isn’t one of comfort and ease. It is, rather, the path towards greatness, towards the living of a life dedicated to a noble and holy cause: the proclamation of the Good News. But saying this is one thing, actually experien­cing it is quite another. And the difficulties that come with it can be truly daunting, at times even discouraging. For our commitment to Christ will inevitably lead us to encounter situations and circumstances, as Paul did, that will test our limits of patience, kindness, love, and even compassion for people. We will not always be welcomed. We will not always be willingly and gladly heard. We will sometimes be treated rudely, harshly, unkindly, uncharitably, sometimes even inhumanely. Not only misunderstanding, but downright persecution and suffering are the lot of the followers of ­Jesus. All throughout this ordeal though, we lean on the power and strength of the Holy Spirit: our Advocate and Comforter.